It’s become a badge of honor to say, “All my pets are rescues,” or “I have a rescue dog/cat,” rather than “I have a dog/cat.” In a lot of ways, of course, that’s a good thing; there are many animals out there in need of homes. It is kind and generous that people open up their hearts and families to these beings in need. I applaud those who rescue animals. I have a few “rescue pets” walking—and flying—around here, myself.

However, I also see problems with this trend that people might not, generally, think about. Many of the behavioral and health issues I help people deal with every day exist, at least in large part, because the pet was a rescue.